PRINCIPAL: Mrs Leesa Daly
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL: Mr Christopher Payne
Another school year has drawn to a close.
It was lovely to have our hall full to capacity again on Monday night, at our Presentation Award evening, as we celebrated with our school community, the many individual and collective successes of 2022. It was great to be able to recognise students for their awesome academic, sporting, cultural and citizenship achievements. Congratulations to all the award recipients. A big shout out is extended to our special guests, including Member for Cootamundra - Steph Cooke, Director Educational Leadership - Carolynne Merchant, AECG President- Cath Carroll, P & C President - Adam Randall and our Elder in Residence - Aunty Elaine Lomas, who made the effort to come and present awards. David Ward (OAM), spoke from the heart about his special family and personal connections to CHS and the reasoning behind the development of his new award, which was particularly special. It was a privilege to be able to present 3 Director Awards at the end of the evening to staff and community members who have gone above and beyond at CHS for many years. Congratulations to Mrs Samantha O’Loughlin (SLSO), Mr Alasdair Sides (Head Teacher Science/Mathematics) and P&C member Mr Julian Jones. We thank all our business and community partners who supported our presentation evening by donating prizes. It was wonderful to have our dance and music teams perform for you all as part of our celebrations. A big thank you is extended to the Presentation Team for all their work in organising and hosting this event.
We congratulate our 2022 HSC students on their HSC results and ATAR’s that were released to them all yesterday. We celebrate all your successes and wish you all the very best in your future endeavours. 20 of our students have been offered exciting university course entrance, others are heading into trade fields, some are taking a gap year whilst others have joined the fulltime work force. The Year 12 formal was a lovely way to celebrate the end of your formal secondary schooling with you all – you all looked amazing. Special thanks to Sam O’Loughlin and her team for setting up the function room so beautifully.
Our Proud and Deadly Award Ceremony was celebrated at CHS with family and friends from 7 schools from both Cootamundra and Temora. It was lovely to see so many smiling, happy faces. It was great to acknowledge the fine achievements of our First Nations children. The highlight of this event was Aunty Elaine Lomas, Elder in Residence, conducting her combined schools’ choir who sang a number of songs in Wiradjuri language. It was music to everyone’s ears.
Our outdoor Aboriginal Education Space and Yarning Circle continues to progress with the installation of our uniquely designed seats by Mr Graeme Roberts from ‘Gloster Park Timbers’.
A number of super fun, Positive Behaviour for Learning Acknowledgement excursions, have occurred recently including an amazing trip to the Yarrangobilly Caves and thermal pool near Talbingo in the Snowy Mountains for Years 7 and 8 and a wet and wild time at Jamberoo Water Park, Kiama, for Year 9 students. Thank you to the Year Advisors and staff for organising and supervising these fabulous excursions. I know the students have made some wonderful memories.
Two students from each year group were awarded $25 Gift Cards when they received the final PBL Acknowledgement awards for 2022. These students have maintained attendance above 90%, have consistently demonstrated the schools core values of Respect, Responsibility and Excellence, have worn their school uniform with pride and have engaged positively in their learning throughout the year. Congratulations to the following students: Year 11 - Wil Ellis and Tenesha Silk, Year 10 - Laura Holt and Rowan Hughes, Year 9 - Isabella Carr and Cooper Fallon, Year 8 - William Finch and Amber Pepper, Year 7 - Halle Nicka and Emily Tanks.
I was honoured to recently attend the Riverina Sporting Blue Award Ceremony, hosted at the Wagga RSL Club, with CHS Sport Coordinator Briana Fritsch, to recognise the outstanding sporting achievements in Athletics, of Year 9 student, Kristian Miller. Unfortunately, Kristian was unable to attend this event as he was in Adelaide competing in the National championships. A huge achievement and well deserved. We are all really proud of you Kristian.
The P&C held their final meeting for the year in early December before heading out for dinner together. P&C President Adam Randall presented me with a lovely bunch of flowers as well as presenting gifts to two long serving P&C members who will be finishing up with us at the end of 2022 – Tina Wales and Julian Jones. We appreciate all their support and look forward to working with our P&C in 2023. The first P&C fundraiser for 2023 will be a Bingo night at the Ex-Servicemen’s Club on Saturday 11th February – we hope to see lots of parents, students and staff in attendance. It is always a great night out.
The SRC hosted a Crazy Hair Day last week to support Jason Baldock’s ‘Chop the Mop’ fundraiser for CanAssist Cootamundra. There were some awesome hairdo’s: Ruby Geddes, Esther Ray, Eli Leishman and Miss Willoughby, just to name a few. The school was able to donate $500 dollars towards this worthy cause, which was presented to Jason at the end of the day. I got to chop part of the ‘mop’ at the street carnival last night on behalf of the school. Jason raised a massive $110,330.
Please be aware that the Premier’s Back to School NSW program vouchers are available to all families again in 2023. Each student in NSW will receive $150 worth of vouchers for school supplies.
Students have again received a 2023 book pack from the school to help alleviate some of the financial pressure on our families. If your child was unable to collect their book pack don’t worry, it will be available for them to pick up on their return to school.
Our new junior every day and sports shirts, which the school has purchased for all junior students, have not arrived in time to distribute before the end of term. We hope they will be ready for families to pick up from the front office on either of the School Development Days in 2023 – Friday 27th January or Monday 30th January from 9:00am - 3:30pm. If the worst-case scenario happens and they are still not available to pick up on these days, then this will be communicated to parents via our school Facebook page. Students will be asked to wear their existing school shirts. Year 6 into Year 7 students can wear their Year 6 shirts from 2022.
Junior reports (Year 7 - 10) went home with students who were present at school today. All other reports are being posted home today.
Students in Years 7, 11 and 12 return to school on Tuesday 31st of January. All other Year groups return on Wednesday 1st of February. Week 1 will be an ‘A’ timetable week.
We wish long serving teachers Mr Clint Perry and Mrs Rebecca Perry all the very best in their future endeavours as they move closer to home after 16 years of service to Cootamundra High School. You will be missed.
I am excited and nervous to be taking 12 months leave to be able to travel and reconnect with family and friends. I am looking forward to being able to take some time to slow down, regroup and practice the GEM principles of Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness as part of our Resilience Project initiative that commences in 2023. I am nervous about how I will go with clocking off from the routine and hustle and bustle of school life as it has been my passion and drive for the last 30 years. The school is in safe hands with Mr Chris Payne stepping in to lead the school as Principal and Mr Alasdair Sides stepping into the Deputy Principal role. I know they will both do an awesome job.
I will be back in 2024, suitably refreshed and ready to lead the school on the next steps of the journey.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy 2023.
With Kind Regards
Leesa Daly
